Trending Now

You are here

Fall Circuit Court term wraps up

Friday’s closure of the fall Oktibbeha County Circuit Court term saw the last session in which the court was operating with two judges.
When the winter term of Circuit Court is held in January, a third judge will be working with current judges Lee Howard and Jim Kitchens to handle cases in Oktibbeha County and the other three counties — Noxubee, Clay and Lowndes — in the 16th Circuit Court District.
That third judge will either be Lee Coleman or Nebra Porter — both West Point attorneys — who are facing each other in a runoff for the newly-created Place 3 judgeship in the 16th District. The runoff is scheduled for Nov. 23.
The logistics of how the local Circuit Court will operate if three judges are on the bench are to be worked out after voters choose the third judge in just over two weeks.
The winter Circuit Court term begins Jan. 24, 2011, and will be preceded by a session of the Oktibbeha County Grand Jury earlier in the month.

Guilty pleas and sentencings

In Circuit Court action through Friday, the following defendants maded guilty pleas and were sentenced or had prior suspended sentences, probation or post-release supervision revoked. They are listed by name, charges, sentence, fines and restitution (any similarities in name to other individuals in the community is purely coincidental):
• Courtney Harrison, simple assault (reduced from an aggravated assault charge), 6 months in the county jail (suspended for two years), $250 fine.
• Daniel Chase Gregg, DUI (third offense), 1 year in the Intensive Supervision/House Arrest Program followed by 4 years of probation (on a 10-year suspended sentence), $2,000 fine.
• Justin Ward Walker, sale of less than 30 grams of marijuana, 3 years of non-adjudicated probation, $1,000 fine, $250 in restitution to the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.
• Tyreka Edwards, possession of between .1 gram and 2 grams of cocaine, 5 years of probation (on an 8-year suspended sentence), $500 fine.
• Nicholas Terry, conspiracy to distribute between 30 and 250 grams of marijuana, 5 years of non-adjudicated probation, $500 fine, $250 in restitution to the Starkville Police Department.
• Najalah C. Davis, false pretense, 1 year in prison, $250 fine.
• McClean Smith (also known as Scott McClean Smith), sale of amphetamine, 5 years of probation, $5,000 fine.
• Anthony Woods, misdemeanor malicious mischief (reduced from felony malicious mischief charge), 6 months in jail (suspended for 2 years), $300 fine, $425.60 in restitution.
• Vernon Elmore, burglary of a dwelling, 6 years in prison, $750 fine.
• Charles Thompson, DUI (third offense), 1 year in prison, $2,000 fine.
• Kashonda Elliott, felony shoplifting, 1 year in the Intensive Supervision/House Arrest Program followed by 4 years of probation (on a 5-year suspended sentence), $250 fine.
• Melvin Brown, possession of less than 30 grams of marijuana, 3 years of non-adjudicated probation, $500 fine.
• James “Juke” O’Briant, 10 years in prison after a suspended sentence was revoked on a prior aggravated assault conviction.
• Anthony Bush, 5 years in prison after post-release supervision was revoked for a prior conviction for sale of cocaine.
• Rhiannon Hammons, conspiracy to sell hydrocodone, 4 years of non-adjudicated probation, $500 fine.
• Pattie Newcomb, possession of two methamphetamine precursors, 18 months in the Intensive Supervision/House Arrest Program followed by 5 years of probation (on a 10-year suspended sentence), $5,000 fine.
• James Ballard, grand larceny, conspiracy, 8 years in prison, $200 fine, $1,830 in restitution.
• Timothy Gandy, 5 years in prison after post-release supervision was revoked for a prior cocaine possession conviction.
• David Popper, possession of between 30 and 250 grams of marijuana, 3 years of non-adjudicated probation, $500 fine, $250 in restitution.
• Bonita Medders, conspiracy to sell cocaine, 12 years in prison, $5,000 fine ($4,000 suspended).
• Devin Thompson, identity theft, 5 years of probation (on a 10-year suspended sentence), $500 fine, $1,007 in restitution.
• Charles Dixon, possession of MDMA (ecstasy), 10 years in prison (recommended for Regimented Inmate Discipline [RID] program).
• Byron Guyton, four counts of burglary of a dwelling, 5 years of probation (on a 10-year suspended sentence), $2,000 fine, $1,149.98 in restitution.
• Larry Smith, arson (third-degree), 3 years in prison (habitual offender), $700 fine, $962.90 in restitution.

More suspects arraigned

In Circuit Court action through Friday, the following suspects were arraigned on various Oktibbeha County Grand Jury indictments and are listed by name, charges, bond and date of next court action (any similarities in name to other individuals in the community is purely coincidental):
• Ryan Robbins, possession of marijuana, $5,000 bond, Feb. 3.
• Tawanda Wilson, false pretense, $5,000 bond, Jan. 26.